Florida Panthers (31-16-6 68P) vs Buffalo Sabres (21-26-6 48P)
- WHEN: 7:00 p.m. ET – LBC GameThread right here at 6:30ish
- WHERE: First Niagara Center – Buffalo, NY
- UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Presidents Day specials, Valentine’s Day Weekend specials, Coke Zero Collectible Pins (details; Nick Bjugstad is February’s honoree)
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- ON THE TUBE: FOX Sports Florida, MSG-B
- ON THE DIAL: 560 AM, 640 AM; Official App
- SOCIALS: #FlaPanthers, #Sabres, #FLAvsBUF, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook page
- ENEMY INTEL: Die By The Blade
- SB NATION: Game Hub /
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- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 4 of 4 (2-1-0)
- ALL-TIME vs BUF: 37W-39L-4T 5OTL 2SOL 213GF 243GA
- ALL-TIME at BUF: 16W-21L-3T 4OTL 1SOL 97GF 123GA
- LAST FIVE vs BUF: 4-1-0 17GF 9GA/
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- PROJECTED STARTERS: Luongo (23-13-5 .913/2.13 4SO), Lehner (2-3-1 .939/2.17 0SO)
- JAGR WATCH: All-time vs BUF (regular season): 86GP 45G-58A 103P 4GWG
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Buffalo /
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Notable:
F Aleksander Barkov was forced out of Monday’s match vs Detroit due to this hit by Justin Abdelkader.
NHL.com Preview:
Florida will play its second game in as many nights following a 3-0 loss at the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. The Panthers will be without center Aleksander Barkov, who did not play in the third period after taking a hit from Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader. “You hate to lose your top player, but that’s part of the game,” coach Gerard Gallant told the Miami Herald. “We’re disappointed to lose him. I thought it was a cheap shot, but the referees didn’t see it that way and explained to me it was a clean check. It’s tough. It happens quick, and we get to see the replay. I think it’ll be looked at. [Abdelkader] left his feet a little and got him in the jaw.” (More)
Yahoo.com Preview:
Buffalo has only managed 14 goals while going 1-6-2 over its last nine home games. Now the club will try to avoid its sixth defeat in its last eight games overall following Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss at Boston. Sam Reinhart got a goal for the second straight contest, but leading scorer Ryan O’Reilly has gone 12 in a row without finding the back of the net. The left wing, however, has three goals and six points in his last four at home versus Florida. (More)
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Last game for the Cats: 3-0 road loss to the Wings on Monday. Past five: 3-1-1 18GF 12GA (streak: 2L)
Last game for the Sabres: 2-1 (SO) loss in Boston on Saturday. Past five: 2-1-2 13GF 15GA (streak: 2L)
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Tuesday in the Atlantic Division (Standings / Panthers Playoff Chances):
- Los Angeles (31-17-3 65P) at BOSTON (28-18-6 62P), 7:00
- TAMPA BAY (29-19-4 62P) at MONTREAL (26-24-4 56P), 7:30
- TORONTO (19-23-9 47P) at Calgary (23-25-3 49P), 9:00
- Idle: DET (62P), OTT (56P)/
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Panthers, SoFla Media & Loyal Opposition on the Tweets
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